(May 21, 2009) – The summer travel season begins with the arrival of the Memorial Day weekend, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is helping drivers "know before they go" during this holiday. The American Auto Association expects a total of 32.4 million people to travel Memorial Day weekend. This represents an increase of 1.5 percent in travelers from last year, due largely to 2009’s lower fuel prices.

Even with fewer people traveling, there were still 2,018 collisions on Ohio highways in 2008, resulting in 560 injuries and 11 fatalities from Friday through the Monday holiday. With more cars expected on the roadways and construction season in full swing, drivers need to be careful in order to avoid delays and mishaps.

There is no better way for motorists to reach their destinations safely than to know what they will encounter before they hit the highways. ODOT’s premiere website, www.BuckeyeTraffic.org, offers up-to-the-minute information on work zone locations, traffic congestion alerts, road closures, weather conditions, and Highway Patrol accident updates; all available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

For all road restrictions and projects, you can also visit ODOT District 10's website at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/districts/D10/trafficreport

Below are highway projects that could be of interest to travelers this holiday weekend:

US Route 50 / US Route 33 (Athens County)

Beginning MondayMay 18, 2009, there will be a lane closure in each direction on US Route 50 to allow for a six inch asphalt overlay project. The project is located on US 50 from the Village of Albany to CR 52. The closure will be approximately 4 miles and will end October 2010. There is a 12'0 width restriction

Interstate 90, Cuyahoga County

(Northeastern Ohio)

On Saturday, May 23, crews will temporarily close the Innerbelt Bridge on I-90 in downtown Cleveland from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. in order to perform a unique operation to lift and push the span four to five inches to the west, to better align the bridge’s joints. ODOT will temporarily restrict traffic on the bridge, detouring motorists onto I-77 and I-490 during the closure.

State Route 8, Summit County (Northeastern Ohio)

SR 8, from south of Twinsburg Rd. to north of the I-271 interchange is undergoing reconstructive work. Two lanes of traffic in each direction will be maintained. While the permanent work zone restrictions remain in place, work is suspended over the holiday and there will be no additional lane closures.

International Gateway/Stelzer Road, Franklin County (Central Ohio)

Interchange construction at the intersection of International Gateway and Stelzer Rd. at Port Columbus International Airport. Access to the airport may be affected, as traffic has been shifted to temporary roads with two lanes in each direction maintained on International Gateway.

Interstate 75, Montgomery County (Western Ohio)

Phase 1A of the modernization of I-75 through downtown Dayton, from Stanley Ave. southbound to Main St. The speed limit through the work zone is 45 mph, and there are lane restrictions throughout the project.

Interstate 75, Butler and Warren counties (Southwestern Ohio)

Major reconstruction of north and southbound I-75, from Cincinnati-Dayton Rd. in Butler County to SR 122 in Warren County, including the rehabilitation and addition of a lane in each direction of I-75 and construction of a single point urban interchange at I-75/SR63. Three reduced-width lanes in each direction are being maintained.

Know before you go: Visit www.BuckeyeTraffic.org for a complete list of highway projects and travel information.